Wards surrender to Yell County Sheriff InvestigatorsSheriff Bill Gilkey announced that former EMS director and bookkeeper Sidney Lee Ward, 69, and Donna Ward, 41, surrendered to Sheriff's Investigators early Monday. The Wards are alleged to have taken over $680,000 in unauthorized funds from Yell County EMS. More on this story as it develops.

Club News: Pope County Master Gardeners January meetingMembers of the Pope County Master Gardeners (PCMG) enjoyed the muscadine juice and jelly provided by Master Gardener Roger Fryar and his wife, Janet. Fryar presented the program “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Muscadines” to the PCMG membership at their January meeting. The master gardeners that volunteered at least 50 hours in the last year were honored. They each received a peppermint patty for their “Commit Mint” to the program. T...

Community photo: Wonder Boys baseballBryan Fisher (far left), Russellville Lion and director of athletic relations at Arkansas Tech University, introduced Wonder Boys baseball coaching staff (from left) head coach Dave Dawson, Derrick Wynn, Danny Higginbotham, Matt Piker, Kris Ayers and Cesar Abreu. Dawson spoke about ATU’s baseball season with the first game scheduled for the first weekend of February. This will be Dawson’s seventh year, so he feels he has a young team with a lo...

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Chancellor’s Leadership Cabinet announcedOZARK — Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has announced its 2016 Chancellor’s Leadership Cabinet (CLC). Established in 2009, the CLC is a student organization assisting with communication efforts among all Arkansas Tech-Ozark prospective and current students, alumni and friends. By working with the campus administration, CLC members advance Arkansas Tech-Ozark’s mission through outreach and support of the communities it serves as part of t...

Backyard chicken farming continues to trendSuzanne Gray loves her chickens. Maybe a little more than most. What began as a hobby and a way to save money on eggs soon became a flock of named birds roving around her backyard, eating out of her hand and pecking alongside her as she makes her way around her six-acre property caring for her animals. Gray is a backyard chicken farmer. Backyard chicken farming, sometimes called “urban chicken farming” in larger cities, is the trend of keeping...

CAI reaches out to communityJames “Jubul” Dunn of Russellville has made it his priority the last decade trying to give back to members of the community. Dunn’s effort to try and show his appreciation to those who make their living by helping other locals began over 10 years ago, when he and his wife created Community Alliances Inc. (CAI). The couple created the organization specifically to honor local residents who give back and ask for nothing in return. “We try to hono...

Community photo: American Farm Bureau ConventionTom Jones of Pottsville, a member of the Arkansas Farm Bureau state board of directors, served as a voting delegate for the business session at the 97th annual American Farm Bureau Convention, held Jan. 12 in Orlando, Fla. The delegate body considered policy positions on a broad set of issues, including food safety guidelines, international trade, the use of drones in agriculture and environmental standards. The body also elected Zippy Duvall ...

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A doctor to be rememberedMembers of the Yell County community remembered Dr. Gene Ring as many things — a pillar, foundation, maverick — but more than anything, they recalled his caring nature. Whether it was delivering babies or asking folks how they were doing, he wanted to help others. “He was always upbeat and smiling, and I don't think I ever saw him mad,” Dardanelle Mayor Carolyn McGee said. “He was just a blessing to the city and really invaluable as a person.”...

Down year for Salvation ArmyIt was a down holiday season for the Russellville Salvation Army. Neither donations taken in through a lackluster red kettle presence nor volunteering was as high as it was last year, Major Linda Payton said. “Kettles were down because we needed more volunteers,” she said. “When we had people out there bell ringing, people gave. When we aren't in front of stores, those who would donate don't.” Locally the Salvation Army was down $8,000 from la...

PCLS mulls roof replacement, 5KThe Pope County Library System Board of Trustees met on Wednesday to discuss replacing the roof of the Russellville Library and replace approximately 50 interior lights and ballasts in the Atkins Library. The board discussed the Russellville Library’s roof, which has been leaking during the recent rains. The leaks have caused several problems including flooding in the Teen Area of the library. The library has a current quote from Miller Roofin...

Aquatic center designs almost fully completeThe Russellville City Council reviewed a potential schedule for the proposed $6 million aquatic center during Thursday’s regular meeting. Van Horn Construction (VHC), the construction manager for the project, sent a tentative schedule to aldermen after ETC Architects of Little Rock presented designs of the facility that were 90 percent complete Monday. Finance Committee Chairman Mark Tripp said a 90 percent cost-budget analysis should be ready...

Community photo: Cub Scout DenThe Tiger Cub Scout Den 182 recently visited with the Russellville firefighters and toured the station house. They learned about fire safety such as stop, drop, and roll. They earned their Tiger adventure merit: Tiger: safe and smart.

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No decision on Latimore homeThe New Prospect Baptist Missionary Church meeting on Wednesday that would have decided the future of the Latimore Tourist Home never happened. Church trusty chairman Andy Hatley didn't say why the meeting didn't take place, but he said there will be a meeting soon on an undetermined date to discuss restoring or razing the home, which is owned by the church. Russellville Code Supervisor Bruce Moore said the city was unaware of the home's listi...

Auditors find more than $680,000 gap at Yell County EMS unit DANVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas auditors say a couple who worked for Yell County Emergency Medical Services received more than $680,000 in undocumented or unauthorized payments. The report released Thursday by the Arkansas Legislative Audit says director Sidney Ward was overpaid nearly $529,000 from January 2010 to August 2015. His wife, bookkeeper Donna Ward, received nearly $120,000. The report says Donna Ward's dependents also improperly rec...

Community photo: Atkins Middle School students of the monthAtkins Middle School January Students of the Month are (from left) fifth grade, Ethan Adame; sixth grade, Arionna Lackey; seventh grade, Macie Petty; and eighth grade, Hadley Ralston. Students are nominated by teachers based on academic performance, classroom citizenship, and community outreach through volunteerism, sports, and the arts.

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Spelling bee winner hungry for stateAfter 21 rounds of successful spelling amongst Pope County’s top 42 spellers, Russellville Middle School sixth grader, Dev Donda (standing), was able to finally savor the evening’s event when he successfully spelled the word “quiche” to win the 2016 Pope County Spelling Bee. Donda will go on to compete in the Arkansas State Spelling Bee on March 12 in the Reynolds Auditorium on the University of Central Arkansas campus.

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River Valley Rewind (Jan. 20, 2016)Performing at halftime of Arkansas Tech’s homecoming football game with Harding College will be the 15 Golden Girls of Tech, including Tara Hill (from left), Kathy Donahou, Carla Miller and Lisa Conatser of Russellville. Mrs. Jan Hill of Russellville is a director of the group. Choreography is by Mrs. Janice Pickard, a former Kilgore (Texas) Rangerette. The Golden girls will do a chair routine with music by the Tech band which will present the...

Community photo: Savor the SymphonyMary Davis (left) and Doris Lawrence go over plans for Savor the Symphony, a fundraiser to be hosted by the Russellville Symphony Guild at 6 p.m. on Feb. 6, at the Russellville Country Club. The event will feature a seated dinner of steak, live music and a raffle, which features a .96 round solitaire diamond. Some of the auction items include a trip to New York City, Tuscany, Italy or Napa Valley, Calif. For more information, call 479-967-1177.

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